"Why aren't I a goddess?" Olivia asked one day, flopping down on a sofa next to Loki.

"If it helps, you are in my eyes." He replied, his eyes still glued to the page in his book.

"I'm being serious. And that statement loses it's luster when we're surrounded by divinity." Olivia protested.

"What would you rather I call you? Princess? Queen? Darling?" Loki asked, still not meeting her gaze.

"We can talk about pet names later. Why aren't I a goddess?"

"Not everyone here is a god or goddess."

"But there's a big difference between other people and me, the war orphan the Royal family took in who's-"

"Being courted by the prince, I get it. But not having a specific divinity doesn't make you less of a person." Loki finally looked at her, sincerity in his words.

"But... Loki, think about it. Odin, Allfather, God of Poetry, War, and Wisdom. Frigga, Allmother, Goddess of Motherhood and Marriage. Thor, God of Thunder, Fertility, and also War. Loki, God of Chaos, Mischief, Stories, among other things. And his wife-"

"Wife?"

"It's a hypothetical how the story will be written, but that's not the point. Loki, you're the god of so many things and I want to be more than just your lover in history." Olivia sighed.

"But that's a good thing to be remembered for." Loki said. Olivia pursed her lips before standing up. She kissed his forehead gently.

"Loki, I love you, but you're not helping." She said, drawing away and leaving the library. Olivia wandered the halls, tracing her fingers on the patterns inset into the doors and walls she passed. She didn't understand why her worries were so hard for Loki to get. Even the seamstress, Brina, had a title. Goddess of precision. Surely, then, Olivia should have something to call hers.

"Oh, there you are, Olivia, I was looking for you." Frigga said, coming up behind Olivia.

"Yes, Frigga?" She asked.

"I was hoping that- Why the sad expression?"

"Oh, it's nothing. What did you need?"

Frigga pursed her lips before taking Olivia gently by the arm. Frigga led her into her chambers before sitting her down on the edge of the small fountain in the middle.

"Tell me what's the matter. And don't tell me it's nothing because I know it very much is something." Frigga pressed Olivia. The girl sighed.

"It's just... Of all the people here, why don't I have a divinity? Why aren't I some kind of goddess? As much as I love him, surely my purpose in life isn't just to be Loki's lover. Isn't there something for me?" Olivia asked solemnly.

"I figured this question was coming. Well, not having a divinity doesn't make you any less of a person. Your parents didn't."

"That's what Loki said, but I want to have a greater purpose. Shouldn't Loki be remembered by having a lover who's interesting in some way? Not just a war orphan he lived with and eventually fell for?"

Frigga let a short silence hang before she sighed slightly.

"Earning a goddesshood can take a lot of work, especially if it's not something that comes naturally. Perhaps we can find something, though it won't probably be very easy." She said. Olivia brightened a little.

"I'd be willing to put in the work. Even if it's only one title, it's better than none." She said. Frigga chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Well, alright. Let me think... Earth?"

"Sif just earned that title to go with her War." Olivia said. "Why do we need so many war gods?"

"I haven't the foggiest idea. Odin prizes it, I suppose." Frigga replied. "Beauty or physical attraction?"

"As sweet as the compliment of you thinking I'm worthy for a Beauty divinity is, Freya has that. And physical attraction isn't really... My thing seeing as I'm still... pure." Olivia blushed. Again, Frigga chuckled.

"I'm sure Loki could see to that." She said slyly. Olivia went a deeper red as her jaw fell open.

"Frigga!" She said indignantly.

"I only jest, my dear. Perhaps Snow or Winter?"

"Loki has a fire aspect to his divinity. Mine should complement him, not contradict." Olivia said firmly. Frigga chewed her lip, partially in thought and partially because Olivia didn't really know a Winter divinity wouldn't really... Contradict Loki.

"Alright, well... How about this? Loki is the God of Stories, correct? We have no Goddess of Dreams. Dreams tell their own stories and I know how much of a night owl you are. They do fine on their own, but it might be better if we had someone to regulate them, watch over them." Frigga suggested. Olivia thought it through before breaking into a smile.

"It's perfect!" She said.

"Oh, good. I must warn you that there will be some pretty intense training to go along with it. You need to learn how to cast solid illusions outside of your physical body... And how to actually leave your physical body to travel through people's consciousnesses."

"Well, who would teach me all that?" Olivia asked.

"I can teach the illusions of the subconscious, but as Valkyrie Queen, Freya will know how to travel outside of your body. I will speak with her first thing tomorrow morning to set up proper times for lessons." Frigga decided. Olivia smiled wide before embracing Frigga tightly.

"Thank you so much. I can't wait to get started."

***

The training room that was usually used for magic lessons was largely empty. Frigga had given Loki the day off to spar with Thor and his friends. He, of course, didn't want to do it without Olivia, but Frigga insisted that she had things to do. Keeping her training was a secret they wanted to keep. Not for any particular reason, mostly as a fun surprise. Thor had overheard the conversation and mentioned that Loki probably wanted Olivia to spar with so they could hide behind a tree to kiss. At that remark, Thor barely avoided a fresh stab wound in his side.

Frigga and Olivia entered the aforementioned training room with Freya already inside. She placed a few cushions down in groups across from each other. Once Freya noticed the other two entering, she tossed the last cushions down and approached.

"Milady. Lady Olivia." She greeted warmly. Olivia was acquainted with Freya, though they rarely ever held a conversation. She was younger than Frigga, yet still many years Olivia's senior. Still, there was a warm, almost playful glint in her eyes that seemed youthful. There was a reason she was Goddess of Beauty, that was certain. "I hear you're looking to earn a goddesshood."

"Yes, Lady Freya." Olivia replied respectfully.

"You're welcome to just call me Freya. Now, I figure it would be best to learn exactly how to leave your physical body before attempting to learn casting illusions in spirit form. It takes time to master, yet once you know how to do it, it's fairly simple. Since doing so will likely be a nightly occurrence, I figure you will achieve mastery soon enough."

"Perhaps it's easy for a Valkyrie, but I, however, am not one." Olivia said, picking her lip.

"With enough patience and practice, anyone with a gift for magic can easily shift to a sprirt form." Freya reassured her.

"At least, for females. We have a certain skill for quieting our minds and a certain grace that men tend to lack. Even Loki, with his magical skill and occasional desire to be female, can't really do it properly." Frigga added. Freya nodded to indicate her agreement.

"Such is why Valkyries are always female. Now, as such, for starters, you have to learn to quiet your mind. Think beyond what's immediate and only remain in the moment. Simple meditation is a good start. Eventually you'll be able to cross over in your sleep since the effect of stilling your mind is very similar in both cases. Most importantly, be patient. Try not to feel like it's going too slow. When you eventually start practicing shifting, don't get discouraged when you can't shift right away."

"A counterintuitive question, but how long does it usually take to be able to shift properly?" Olivia asked.

"Valkyries can take anywhere from two to six weeks to learn, depending on how well they can quiet their minds. Though, as you said, you aren't a Valkyrie, and they have a certain gene that allows for easier shifting. Even so, it should take about the same time as most Valkyries don't have your magical abilities." Freya explained, gesturing for Olivia to sit down on some of the cushions. There were about six piled up, so it was quite comfortable. Freya sat across from her as Frigga summoned her own cushion to sit on a little to Olivia's left.

"Are we to sit in complete silence and focus on the sound of our breathing?" Olivia asked. Truly, deafening silence never sat well with her. It made her feel small and sometimes vulnerable. Somehow knowing this (possibly because of Frigga), Freya smiled.

"Some Valkyries do because they can hear for a farther distance. Though, most like a calm sound to focus on, like the blow of wind or the flow of water. Is there one you prefer?" She asked.

"Water sounds pleasant." Olivia said, offering a shy smile. Frigga waved a hand to produce a small stone fountain in between Olivia and Freya. It carried a gentle sound that made Olivia feel far more relaxed. She breathed in and out evenly as she closed her eyes.

"Now, focus on your breath. But not on the sound of it. Focus on the flow of the air, the way your chest moves in and out as you breathe. Keep the breaths even. In for four seconds, hold for seven, then breathe out for eight. And repeat." Freya said calmly, mirroring the actions herself.

They sat in relative silence for what felt like hours. It was rather calming; Olivia nearly fell asleep a few times. Eventually, she did actually fall asleep, falling out of her cross-legged position on the floor and tipping over onto her side. Frigga smiled and summoned a blanket for her. It brought Frigga back to the days when Olivia was a little younger, curling up everywhere when she fell asleep.

She and Freya decided to let her rest for now.

***

Weeks later and Olivia had finally come close to moving out of her body. She felt herself move forward a few inches before snapping back to her regular position yesterday. She need only concentrate a little more.

"You're almost there. Just stay focused and it only gets easier once you master the skill." Freya reassured her. Olivia nodded with a smile and crossed her legs on the floor. She shut her eyes and evened her breathing. Not long after, she felt that familiar soft tug she felt whenever she started to shift. Not breaking her concentration, Olivia took a few more deep breaths. The sensation was as though one were pulling apart a cotton ball. A pull, sure, but not painful like a rip would be.

"You can open your eyes." She heard Freya whisper. Olivia heeded the request and was both shocked and excited. It was like she had entered a sort of celestial plane, a vastness in space with stars and deep blue hues everywhere. Freya stood in front of Olivia, sporting a Valkyrie's wings. Mixed within the stars, she saw apparitions. She recognized these people, for they were the people in the palace. They just looked like translucent ghosts. "This is the Spirit Plane, where Valkryies find the souls bound for Valhalla and where you can travel from person to person, realm to realm with ease. Each figure you see is a spirit that correlates with a person. For example..."

Freya led Olivia over to a particular figure a few meters away, sitting against nothing (but could just as easily be a wall or tree). Even in a spirit form, Olivia recognized the figure.

"That's Loki." She said.

"Exactly. Probably reading under a tree. You can see him, but he can't see you, nor feel your presence. Yet, you are in front of him all the same."

"Incredible." Olivia said, playfully poking Loki on the nose. He made no indication that he felt it.

"You may see a Valkyrie fly in every now and again. It's okay to interact with them, but only if they instigate the conversation. You don't want to interrupt them if they're seeking a soul." Freya explained. Olivia nodded with a smile.

"It's so beautiful in here. Though, how am I supposed to travel to places outside of Asgard? It seems like it would be an incredibly long walk each night." Olivia questioned. At this, Freya gave a playful chuckle.

"Of course not. I'm surpised you haven't noticed yet."

"Noticed what?"

At this, something behind Olivia shifted and circled around her. Wings. Wings with royal blue feathers that resembled a Valkryie's wings. She gaped at the appendages, running her fingers along the feathers.

"These wings only appear in this Plane, and this wouldn't make you a Valkyrie as you can't transport souls or anything else a Valkyrie can do. This is where the similarities end. All you would be doing in here is casting illusions on souls whilst they sleep. But the wings help you get around faster. I feel like I should mention that you will be asleep while you do this, but it's not by any means a restful time. You may sleep for a few hours longer, but it's not something that would destroy your sleep schedule." Freya explained.

"I understand." Olivia replied, testing her ability to flap her spirit wings. "Am I going to have to learn to fly?"

"It's not hard." Freya laughed. "Just imagine lifting off the ground, then all you need to do is lean left to fly left, and lean right to fly right. Keep your legs together."

"Okay, fair enough." Olivia shrugged. She then did as she was told and imagined lifting off the ground. True enough, her feet left the ground as her body flew parallel to the... Well, ground really isn't the right word. She and Freya stood in empty space that felt solid on their feet. Heeding Freya's advice, Olivia made simple turns and picked up the skill rather quickly. She landed back down with a wide smile. Freya looked at her proudly.

"We should probably head back. Tomorrow we will finalize the training. Frigga will speak to me while we are in here to give instructions on how to create massive individual illusions." She said. Olivia nodded before imagining herself back in the training room.

She opened her eyes and was met with pillows on the floor once again.

***

"The dreams will form naturally in the peoples' heads. You need only cast the spells. Once a soul emits a faint green light, you can view that dream and manipulate it more intimately. But remember for the future: You can't influence your own dreams. It could be very dangerous to your cognitive functions." Freya instructed. It was another few days later, late at night on Asgard so as to give Olivia a more comfortable practice setting. Flying a few feet overhead, Olivia spread her fingers wide and emitted small, round lights from them. They sprinkled on the sleeping forms individually before the souls lit up faintly green.

"I got it!" She said excitedly.

"Good! Now try to peer into one and maybe change it a little." Freya said. Choosing the spirit of a small girl in a nearby village, Olivia stood in front of her. She gently placed her fingers on the girl's temples and shut her eyes. When she opened them, Olivia was met by a beautiful pastel lagoon with the little girl dancing with pixies in it. Olivia smiled at the innocent dream.

She flicked her wrist and suddenly flowers bloomed on the bushes around the lagoon. She successfully changed the dream. Olivia shut her eyes and returned to the Spirit Plane.

"I do believe you've completed your training." Freya said. Olivia grinned and gave the goddess a simple curtsy before the pair of them left the Plane to return to the training room. Frigga gave Olivia a large hug as soon as she came to.

"I'm so proud of you, my dear." She said. "You'll make a very fine goddess."

"Thank you." Olivia said, inclining her head.

"One more thing." Frigga pulled out a necklace from inside of her dress pocket. It was a glowing blue moonstone attached to a simple cord. "Every goddess has some physical representation of their title, be it a pendant or a physical trait. A moonstone being something associated with the night, I feel like this was appropriate."

Frigga clasped the cord around Olivia's neck with gentle care. Olivia tried to conceal a few tears that threatened to spill over at the gesture.

"It's beautiful." She said.

"My lady, should we make it official?" Freya asked. Frigga smiled with a simple nod. She faced Olivia as she held out her arms with her hands face up and her eyes closed.

"May the Norns sanctify your goddesshood, and may they accept your duties as long as you live. Hail Olivia, Goddess of Dreams." Frigga said. The pendant Olivia wore seem to glow faintly as Frigga finished.

"It seems the Norns accept." Freya said with a chuckle. Olivia flushed a little and gave a quick curtsy to both women.

"Thank you both." She said.

***

"Psst... Loki." Olivia whispered. After she had gone to sleep, she entered the Spirit Plane to find him. She found him dreaming of a giant tree larger than Asgard itself, the branches hiding all manner of things. He was halfway up, holding a book in his hands. He turned away from the book to meet Olivia's gaze. Loki yelped upon seeing Olivia's grinning face two inches from his own.

"What- What are you doing here?" He asked. "Wait, why do you have wings? Why are you in my dream?"

"Surprise!" Olivia said, showing him the pendant still around her neck. "I wanted to surprise you. I've spent weeks, maybe months training and now I have my goddesshood. Goddess of Dreams."

"Really? My darling, that's wonderful!" Loki praised excitedly, taking her hands in his. "So you can create and view dreams?"

"Through the Spirit Plane used by the Valkryies, yes." Olivia replied. "I can travel the Realms and beyond to give people their dreams. Nightmares, too, though I would only intentionally create one if the person really deserves it. Otherwise, those manifest on their own."

"Can you make Thor dream of getting lost in the woods?" Loki asked, smirking.

"Loki, don't exploit this, I have to be fair about this." Olivia said, though she smiled. She kissed his forehead softly. "But if he was a dick to you..."

Loki laughed and kissed her on the lips. He pulled away and picked his book back up.

"This will be fun." He then turned lightly pink. "By the way... You didn't view my dream last night, right?"

"No. Why?" Olivia asked.

"Ah, no reason." Loki said, brushing it off and returning to the book. Olivia smirked, noticing the red on his face.

"Was it about me?" She asked.

"Possibly. I'll never tell."

"Mmm... Okay. I'll see you in the morning, Loki. I need to get my own sleep."

"Of course." Loki kissed her forehead before Olivia disappeared from his dream and from the Spirit Plane.

***

"...you really think I am. You think I'm a monster..."

"...don't stand a chance. Dreams are far from reality..."

"...you care for the mortals now. You know what they really are: Dirty selfish rats..."

"...even more of a fool than I took you for..."

"...I was strong, I had power, and in my eyes, I was perfect..."

"...everything from us, so we take everything from you..."

"...Asgard is ours, the Realms are ours. And I promise you it will stay..."

"....Monster... Dreams... Reality... Selfish... Fool... Power... Perfect... Everything... Asgard... Realms... Queen."

Olivia shot awake in a cold sweat. What was that? A dream, she knew, but it was so...

She couldn't come up with the right word. The dream itself was just blurs of color that seemed like a picture way out of focus. But she could hear fragments of sentences clear as day. What she saw, she didn't know. Perhaps she would never know.

Curious. She thought. Maybe it meant something, maybe it didn't.

Who really knows?